Schneider Laura, Volkmann Nina, Spindler Birgit, Kemper Nicole
Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Front Vet Sci. 2020 Dec 9;7:543335. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.543335. eCollection 2020.
According to international housing recommendations, fattening bulls should not be housed in groups of more than 12-20 animals. However, there are no scientific studies supporting these recommendations as most studies on fattening cattle refer to smaller groups. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze and compare behavior and performance of 187 fattening bulls housed in different group sizes of 16, 22, and 33 animals. Behavioral observations were performed during three observation periods at an average age of 8.5, 13, and 17 months. Furthermore, body condition, health status and carcass weights were analyzed. Effects of increasing group size were observed regarding more synchronized lying behavior, longer lying durations and more undisturbed feeding and lying behavior. Interindividual variations in lying and feeding as well as mean and maximum percentages of animals participating simultaneously in interactions did not increase with group size. Health and growth performance were satisfactory in all group sizes. Therefore, the results of this study do not provide scientific evidence for the common argument that increasing group size leads to increased aggression. Furthermore, these findings indicate large group systems to be suitable for the housing of fattening cattle and to contribute to increasing animal welfare. Consequently, current recommendations should be revised.
根据国际住房建议，育肥牛的饲养群体数量不应超过12至20头。然而，没有科学研究支持这些建议，因为大多数关于育肥牛的研究涉及的是较小的群体。因此，本研究的目的是分析和比较187头育肥牛在16头、22头和33头不同群体规模下的行为和性能。在平均年龄为8.5个月、13个月和17个月的三个观察期内进行了行为观察。此外，还分析了体况、健康状况和胴体重。观察到随着群体规模的增加，躺卧行为更加同步，躺卧时间更长，采食和躺卧行为更少受到干扰。躺卧和采食的个体差异以及同时参与互动的动物的平均和最大百分比并未随着群体规模的增加而增加。所有群体规模下的健康和生长性能都令人满意。因此，本研究结果并未为群体规模增加会导致攻击性增强这一普遍观点提供科学证据。此外，这些发现表明大群体饲养系统适合育肥牛的饲养，并有助于提高动物福利。因此，应修订现行建议。
